Dominican Hospital unveils $12.6 million rehab unit

SANTA CRUZ -- Dominican Hospital officials showed off a new $12.6 million acute rehabilitation unit to treat stroke and head injuries Tuesday, thanking donors for supporting the state-of-the-art project.

The 20-bed wing, built in a former oncology unit on the hospital's second floor, will replace Dominican's rehab campus at 610 Frederick St., in operation since 1992. The new facility meets state seismic safety standards adopted in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake. It is expected to open in February.

The foundation put its name on an apartment with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom where patients learn new ways of performing daily tasks before going home.

Other major donors were the Aptos families of Lou and Isabel Bartfield and Steve and Amanda Allen, and contractor Fernandes and Sons of San Jose.

Mickiewicz praised Fernandes and Sons, which started work in June, for finishing on time.

"Guys worked nights and weekends," said owner Larry Fernandes.

Local subcontractors included KT Mechanical, California Roofing and Cyclops Electrical.

Unlike Frederick Street, all the rooms are private rooms, something patients want, according to Lisa Akey, a registered nurse who supervises continuing care.

"Patients do three hours of therapy a day," she said, observing that after therapy, they want "a good rest."

Architect Frank Cedarblade of Reel Grobman in San Jose, who redesigned the Frederick Street campus 20 years ago, said the new unit reflects changes in health care.

The rooms are fully digitized with an interactive television replacing educational handouts and DVDs and providing email access to patients.

Electronic bulletin boards replace whiteboards with handwritten notes to improve communication among the patient, family members and staff, and a new headwall stores data.

New electronic lifts in two rooms help patients get out of bed and go to the bathroom without fear of falling.

"Employees get injured trying to lift heavy patients," Cedarblade said. "Lifts pay for themselves in a couple of months."

Physical therapist Barbara Williams was "tickled" to have them, predicting they would help patients recover more quickly.

The average stay in acute rehab is about two weeks, according to Mickiewicz.

About 8,000 patients have been treated in the 17 years since Dr. Robert Quinn came from the University of Toronto to join the staff. One of two Central Coast locations certified as a stroke center, the staff of 100 includes occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians and respiratory therapists, along with doctors and nurses.

"We have a really strong team," Dr. Jennie Jet added. "We're going to be able to stay ahead of the curve."